Toy Story 3

Buzz, Woody, Ham, and friends are all back in the new Toy Story 3D. The story of Toy Story is as brilliant as the characters always were with a few changes to advance the story. Andy is now 17 and going away to college and must choose what to finally do with his favorite toys. Though the numbers of toys have dwindled down to a measly dozen, all your favorite toys are back for the adventure of their lives. Once the toys find themselves a new home at Sunny Side Day Care, things aren't always what they seem. New toys are brought into the mix such as Lots o' Hugs, Ken, and others.

The issue with this movie comes less from the story and plays on the emotions we all know, sadness. Unfortunately, throughout this story the Toys just can't seem to catch a break. Time and time again you think that they might have a chance but every single time you end up thinking "These guys just can't get lucky.

The voice acting is great as usual, and there are a good amount of laughs to not make you feel completely bad. The scenes that do have comedy, such as when Buzz starts to speak spanish, are brilliant. Though once again, I attempted to see it in 3D and see the greatness that is in this 3D fad, but this movie it just didn't seem to matter at all. Not once do you have any cheap tricks such as throwing something at the screen or anything like that. But it also didn't deliver on giving the depth that Up felt and Avatar proved to be tolerable.

Overall, the movie was still a Toy Story film and was a good movie, clearly to be the last, and at the end you still feel like your going to love your toys forever. This film proved that no matter how old, sometimes you just want to play with that special old toy. So when push comes to shove this film gets a 5 out of 10.

Nightmare on Elm Street

This movie was what most reboots fail to do. Quite simply this movie makes you want a sequel. Nightmare on Elm Street is a well known movie series that was kicked off in 1984 and shook us to our core. Their main villain, Freddy Kruger, would attack you in your sleep. Not only that, but the wounds he would inflict on you in your dreams would appear in the real world, creating the sense of pure vulnerability since it's never an easy feet to stop yourself from dreaming.

Jackie Earle Haley comes to this movie with all his acting chops sprinting forward. Many people will recognize him as Rorschach from Watchmen. Well, take the craziness that he had in that movie and add a melted face, knife claws and you create the most terrifying Freddy since the first film. This movie focus's less on the humor Freddy brings in the original series and starts to give you more of a chilling horror effect.

Not only does the storyline improve on the original script but it brings new deaths and great emotion to the characters. We finally see what happened to Kruger and seeing him around the little kids is the most chilling moments of all. This was easily the best horror film I've seen in years and kept me on the edge of my seat from the very first moment, till the last death which leaves room for sequels to come.

Rooney Mara plays Nancy, but rather than her be the teeny bopper that she was in the original film, she's more artsy and reluctant to open her mouth for fear of what others will think. While you can easily tell how much love and work was put into this film you can easily forget that your watching a movie and really start caring about the characters and Freddy himself, once you find out the back story.

Freddy Kruger was always one of my favorite villains of all time. Going into this I was sure that I would either love this movie or hate it and I am very glad to report that I loved it. Every moment just keeps me thinking about the next crazy kill or humorous line from the opening scene in the diner to Nancy's final battle with our Dream world fiend.

This movie was phenomenal and I am so excited for the DVD to come out so I can see how much work and time was put into this, not to mention the commentary. I can honestly say that I look forward to seeing this movie again in theaters and that's a huge deal considering the price of tickets now a days. Without a second thought this movie gets a 8 out of 10. Easy.... Rest in peace!

Kick Ass

Let me start off by apologizing for again not keeping up on my movies. But other than that I'd also like to say that I've never read any Kick Ass comics so I have never known anything about the story other than what was in the film.

Going off that, this film was kind of a let down for me. The basic plot of the movie is high school teen David, played by Aaron Johnson, is just like many of us when we were in high school, just surviving. One day he decides he's going to be a super hero, though he doesn't have any super powers, wasn't biten by a radioactive spider, etc. He just starts training to be one. As he goes around stopping petty crimes he finds out that there are others like him who are doing more than just stopping the petty criminals, their going after the mob bosses.

Without giving anymore of the plot away that's about as much as I can write. But the whole movie never really amazes me. It was very bland. While yes, it had funny parts, and was extremely violent, I never really got into the characters enough to relate and root for them to succeed, Other than Hit Girl that is. Chloe Moretz plays this part brilliantly, as the little girl who runs around with Nick Cage (as Big Daddy) and uses fowl language and gratuitous amounts of violence.

This movie set out to be something new among the massive amounts of comic hero movies but stopped about a mile to short. The movie could have had many things that could have used a bit of finesse, like the acting and filming, but for those of you who don't go in with expectations might really enjoy this movie but for me, it never really got to that point. This movie to me isn't an unforgettable movie but it most definitely isn't a forgettable one either. End point,

Avatar

So it's been a week since James Cameron's Avatar came out in theaters and I finally just got a ticket to see it in the true IMAX 3D experience. This show has been sold out in every theater since it's release and rightfully so, James Cameron has been working on this film for longer than I'd care to remember. Was the wait worth it or was it just another flop?

The movie open's and creates a back story that isn't to original but yet created a completely new environment that just screams beauty. We learn that sometime in the 2100's Earth's population has found a new planet where everything is hostile, from the animal and beasts to the plants and indigenous people. The human's are there for one reason and one reason only, to mine a rare mineral that seems to thrive under the surface of the beautiful planet of Pandora.

Sam Worthington plays Jake Sully, a marine drop out who is only chosen to come because his brother was killed right before shipping off and since he has the same DNA, he's able to drive his brother's avatar. Jake is a handicapped marine who's stuck in a wheel chair but doesn't like to be told what he is and is not capable of.

Jake is introduced to the mercenaries of Pandora, since the pay is better most of the human army is mercenaries. Then in complete contrast to the brute force of the mercenaries is the scientific team consisting of Grace (Sigourney Weaver) and Norm (Joel Moore). This group is only in it to find out the fascinating details behind this incredible planet.

On his first day out in the field he gets attacked by some animals and gets completely lost in the jungle. He then must fight the odds and survive a night alone in this new world that only wants to destroy him. Strangely, one of the indigenous people, the Na'vi, saves his life. After this Jake begins to see the wonders of this beautiful world.

Now this movie is suppose to be completely epic, and NEEDS to be seen in 3D. As many of you know, I don't like this gimmick partly because... well, that's all it is, a gimmick. This movie didn't change my mind about the 3D but at the same time, for once, it did enhance the experience. This film didn't use corny 3D tactics like throwing anything at you, but instead, they use the 3D to show the depth of the scenery. During this entire movie I really felt like I could move to another part of the theater and find myself seeing everything from a different point of view.

Everything about this movie was brilliantly done and you can tell that this is easily Cameron's baby. This is the movie that he's been dreaming of making for years. From the individual styling of each character to the smallest details of the Na'vi people this movie was just done completely brilliant, even the animals had their own personalities.

To sum up this masterpiece, this was what should have been a summer blockbuster but instead it came out in the winter. If they continue to make films using these characters this could be just as great as the original Star Wars saga. Topping out at a 9 out of 10 this movie had very few flaws and couldn't have been done better.

Sherlock Holmes

Guy Richie has yet to make a movie that I do not thoroughly enjoy. With that said, I have to marvel at yet another one of his movies with one of my new favorite actors, Robert Downey Jr. It has been years since I've read Sherlock Holmes but I believe it's safe to say that Guy Richie did for Sherlock Holmes what J.J. Abrhams did for Star Trek.

Robert Downey Jr. does an immaculate at portraying the opium smoking Sherlock Holmes and while they never actually say that he's smoking opium it's easily apparent that he is out of his mind half the time. When Richie shows us how Holmes goes through his mental process he does it in such a spectacular way. Holmes clearly see's the entire fight through while planning out every action and reaction and explaining the ramifications of his movies.

Jude Law plays Dr. John Watson, Holmes' assistant and physician. Both actors did such a surpurb job at playing such classic characters that you begin to forget they are just actors and not actually best friends who solve crimes together.

Without giving to much of the plot away, Watson is trying to move out of 221 Baker St. and in with his girlfriend Mary, but can't seem to pull himself away from the charismatic Holmes. With a touch of super natural in the mix it brings together one hell of a murder mystery. In right fashion when the story comes to a close, Sherlock explains everything and lays out every little detail that you never even picked up on until now.

Through and through, I've tried to find something that I could say would have been better but I'm at a loss for words here. Even the musical score fit the moods and scenes brilliantly. I don't know how it could have been done better and frankly I don't really think it could have, it lead perfectly into a possible sequel or more without even coming off hokey once. The film was a perfect match of action, comedy, and drama. Without a doubt in my mind one of better films of the year. Sherlock Holmes easily gets a 9 out of 10.

Apologies

So as of late, I have run into a bit of financial issues. Thusly, I have not had the time or resources to see or review any new films. Though, I am excited to finally be seeing Avatar when it comes out. Just wanted to send the apology to anyone out there who does read this. Changes are coming to updates and everything, so be excited!

Another tid bit of information I wanted to send out your way, just downloaded the new browser Google Chrome, and it is crazy fast. Sure, it's got it's bugs with videos and netflix instant view isn't supported yet, but what can you expect? It's still in it's Beta testing. Runs a lot cleaner and faster than firefox and new add-ons are added daily, so check it out... Just a few thoughts

Paranormal Activity

Horror fans, ghost fans, and anyone who genuinely want to get terrified by a movie will all enjoy this dirt cheap movie for what it is, a purely scary movie. Oren Peli directed this movie with the lowest of low budgets of only $15,000 and creates this movie that plays on all your scenes.

The story is as follows, Micah and Katie have moved in together and Micah finds out that Katie has been haunted by this "entity" since she was 8 years old. Micah then decides to document the paranormal activities that go on in their home. At first things just start building up. Nothing really happens during the day until shit hits the proverbial fan. But the day shots really set up the scenes for the night terrors.

On the plus side of this movie there is no descending once this movie gets going. The most terrifying scene is the final scene when everything goes bananas. I'm not going to spoil anything for anyone but it is the second ending that has been attached to the film.

Originally, the film was released in 2007 at a scary movie festival and took tons of awards. Steven Spielberg caught wind of this and supposedly locked himself in his room because this movie was so scary. But the films ending was changed to really try and get one more massive scare out of audiences.

The scare tactics used in this movie are very simple and easy to pull off but Peli uses your senses and lack of senses to really terrify each person. Though this movie is filmed in another Blair Witch rip off, it's not suppose to be a high budget scare fest.

As a critic of all kinds of movies, I have to say that scary movies are my favorite. I loved being younger and having a movie scare me so badly that I couldn't get to sleep because I was so terrified of the thoughts that the movie put in my mind. Not saying that this movie made me stay up all night, but I have to say this was honestly one of the few movies that actually scared me and had my heart beating faster and harder than it has in years.

Though, I must say that the acting was not the best acting I've ever seen. I also had a tough time believing that Micah and Katie lived in this gorgeous house, since Katie's a student and Micah was a Day trader. It just didn't seem believable for them to be living in such a huge and amazing house.

All in all though, I must say that this was a great movie that kept me on the edge of my seat, literally. But I have to say that this movie easily deserves the 7 out of 10.